Tips and advice straight from the Lightroom team.

Archive for May, 2013

Camera Raw 8.1 and DNG Converter 8.1 Release Candidates are now available on Adobe Labs This release includes support for HiDPI capable displays, bug fixes, new camera support, and new lens profiles.

Photoshop CS6 customers traditionally have received camera updates through Camera Raw 7.x releases. This is the first time that we are providing camera support through a version of the camera raw plug-in that is a whole version number greater than the version of Camera Raw that shipped with a specific version of Photoshop. (Photoshop CS6 shipped with ACR7 and now we’re providing support to CS6 with ACR8.) As mentioned here, this change allows us to be consistent with our past policy of providing raw support for currently shipping products. However, when ACR8 is hosted by Photoshop CS6, it will not offer any of the new features described in Photoshop CC marketing materials for ACR8.

Today’s Photoshop CC announcement requires a modest change in our camera raw support policy. Because Adobe is still selling Photoshop CS6, those customers will continue to receive updated camera raw file format compatibility via Adobe Camera Raw. When we update ACR with new camera support, Photoshop CS6 customers can work with the new version of the Camera Raw plug-in. No new features or functionality will be available in ACR to Photoshop CS6 customers as part of those updates. (No Upright, advanced healing brush or radial filter, etc.) I don’t have a timeline for how long this camera raw support will continue for Photoshop CS6 but I want to be consistent with our past policy of providing raw support for currently shipping products.

Adobe’s recent announcement around our Creative Cloud update has generated quite a few questions around how it will impact Lightroom 5. I’ve answered a few of the questions below and please feel free to ask additional questions in the comments.

Q. How much will Lightroom 5 cost?

A. Lightroom 5 is available for an estimated $149 US. Customers of previous versions of Lightroom can upgrade to Lightroom 5 for an estimated $79 US.

Q. Will Lightroom 5 be included as part of Adobe Creative Cloud?

A. Yes. Lightroom 5 will be delivered to Creative Cloud members at no extra charge when it’s available.

Q. Will I still be able to purchase Lightroom 5 outside of the Creative Cloud

A. Yes. Lightroom 5 will continue to be available as a standalone product, available for purchase as an Electronic Software Download(ESD) or as a boxed product with a traditional perpetual license.

Q. Will there be a different version of Lightroom called Lightroom CC?

A. No.

Q. Will there be features of Lightroom 5 that are exclusive to Creative Cloud members?

A. No.

Q. Will Lightroom become a subscription only offering after Lightroom 5?

A. Future versions of Lightroom will be made available via traditional perpetual licenses indefinitely.

Q. Is Lightroom included with a Photoshop CC single-app subscription?

A. Lightroom is available as stand-alone purchase, and through the full Creative Cloud package. Lightroom is not included with a Photoshop CC single-app membership.